DAVE CHIN

Portland's Master Business Coach

Leadership in a Losing Season

Halloween is around the corner. Christmas shopping has begun. College football is in full swing. Just a few weeks ago, I was excited — as I am every year — about Oregon State’s chances this football season. But, this year hasn’t gone the way I’d hoped.

As of mid-October, OSU is 0–7. The head coach has been fired. Dreams of a winning season? Over.

It’s easy to talk about leadership when everything is going right — when your team is winning, strategy is working, and everybody’s happy. But real leadership happens in tough situations like these: when plans fall apart, when morale craters, and when there’s not a lot you can do about it.

OSU Beaver Stadium

This football season reminds me that:

Leadership is about how you show up when things are tough.
It’s about keeping your team engaged even when you’re not winning.
It’s about learning, adapting, and preparing for what’s next — not just celebrating the victories.

We all experience seasons like this in business, too. A lost client, failed product launch, missed goal... How we respond as leaders sets the tone for everyone around us. Do we panic? Do we blame? Or do we step back, reflect, regroup, and lead the way forward, even when the path is unclear?

The scoreboard might not show it right now, but there are still lessons to be learned on and off the field this season. As a lifelong Beaver, I’ll always be rooting for them — not just because they might one day take the champs again, but because they have the chance to grow and learn something from every season.

Support OSU Student Athletes

Enneagram Takeaways

A couple of weeks ago, we met to tackle the idea of the Enneagram personality tool as it applies in the workplace. By understanding one's own core motivations and personal blind spots, as well as those of co-workers and managers, you can improve communication, build stronger relationships, and develop more effective strategies for managing conflict and giving feedback.

The Enneagram itself was a new concept for most of the workshop participants. It was interesting to see how it applies in the workplace and how the different types of personalities can work best together.

Many workshop participants learned about an additional tool to help them with stakeholder management — including their fellow team members, clients, and even board members.

There are both paid and free online assessments for those who might like to explore how they are showing up in the workplace and how they can be better collaborators.

Art Palooza: A Night of Pure Imagination

Don’t miss one of the premier events in Beaverton this November the 14th. The Program for Intellectual Empowerment is holding its premier fundraising event of the whole year and you don’t want to miss it! Held at Embassy Suites from 7-9p, it’s going to be a night to remember. Drop by and lend your support to a worthy cause. Dave will be there. Will you?

What are Clarity Breaks?

Clarity Breaks are a chance to step away from the day-to-day running of your business and spend 90 minutes focused on improving your business. You won't go it alone. Dave Chin, or one of his trusted guest presenters will be your guide and you’ll have the advantage of a mastermind of like-minded business owners sharing their ideas and biggest takeaways.

Dave is a proud member of the Beaverton Chamber’s Coaching Network